BMP Material Costs

Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) are cost-effective and a widely accepted means of protecting water quality before, during, and after forest operations. N.C. Forest Service’s BMP Manual details specific tools and methods which can be used during forestry operations to reach compliance with the N.C. Forest Practices Guidelines (FPG) Related to Water Quality. Costs of implementing these recommended BMPs can vary widely due to site conditions. Identifying BMP material costs during preharvest planning can help approximate the profitability of timber acquisitions and could influence your harvesting method/plan.

BMP material costs can vary depending upon quantity purchased, seasonality of the material, and the area/region the purchase is made. Estimates can be made by previous personal experience, contractor bids, or spreadsheets. The Virginia Tech Road and Skid Trail Cost Method is a helpful spreadsheet that has been successfully used to estimate road, skid trail, and BMP costs. The spreadsheet provides cost ranges for common operational activities.

As a starting point for estimating BMP costs, the NCFS contacted approximately 100 stone quarries, farm supply stores, and other business specializing in erosion control across North Carolina and requested current material costs for several BMP materials recommended within 2006 NCFS BMP Manual. Cost inquiries were conducted in February, 2017. All BMP costs were separated by region (figure 1).

Figure 1. Map of North Carolina counties separated into the three regions used to report average cost of BMP materials.

Each BMP item cost was averaged among businesses within each region (Table 1 and 2). Material and equipment prices included in tables 1 and 2 are intended serve as a starting point and can be incorporated into the Virginia Tech Road and Skid Trail Cost Method spreadsheet. Please note that prices should be adjusted for your situation. Estimates of material costs continue to be updated as additional price information is obtained.